Printing apparatus and method



April 16, 1957 M. HIRSCHEY PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Original Filed Aug. 18, 1949 42 I" FlG.-2-- H I llLL w fi/qz. r01. Mesa/e y m ZW 47-76 R/VE y Unite States katent PRINTING APPARATUS AND METHOD Malcolm Hirschey, Woodsidc, N. Y., assignor to Adolph gotglscho, Inc., Hillside, N. J., a corporation of New Original application August 18, 1949, Serial No. 110,920, now Patent No. 2,655,103, dated October 13, 1953. and this application June 15, 1953, Serial No.

3 Claims. (Cl. 101-350) The present invention relates to apparatus for printing indicia on containers, boxes, cartons, packing cases or the like, and, more particularly, to improved ink transferring method and means for such apparatus, and the present application is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 110,920, filed August 18, 1949, for Printing Apparatus, now Patent No. 2,655,103, dated ctober 13, 1953.

The apparatus and method of the present invention have manifold applications, and are suitable for use generally in the transfer of fluids from a source to a vertical surface. Accordingly, while the invention will be described herein in connection with inking mechanism for printing machines, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to that precise application of the invention.

When used in connection with printing machines, one specific application is in the printing on vertical sides of moving packages, containers, bottles, jars, cans and the like, of indicia such as manufacturers or distributors serial numbers, codes and the like, which are generally applied while the article to be marked is moved in a lineal direction and one side thereof contacts a vertical rotatable printing roll while in motion to cause the indicia to be applied thereon.

Heretofore, with the use of apparatus for printing on vertical surfaces, it has been the practice sometimes to employ a felt roll, which may have a reservoir of ink inside the roll to add to the ink contained in the felt as it is used. That practice, and the apparatus employed, however, limits the type of ink used to a dye type of ink for the reason that pigmented inks will not flow through the felt. Moreover, it has heretofore been necessary to employ a slow drying ink for the reason that fast drying inks dry in the felt which then becomes hard surfaced and useless. A further disadvantage of prior apparatus of this character is that a heavier film of ink is applied to the lower type faces and a lighter film to vertically higher type faces because the ink flows by gravity downward in the felt roll. Also prior apparatus employing felt covered inking rolls do not provide for metering the ink accurately because the metering in such apparatus depends upon the saturation of the felt, and such metering varies according to the porosity of the felt, the viscosity of the ink, temperature, and contamination of the felt by the ink itself.

Other apparatus for printing on vertical, or substantially vertical, surfaces have been employed prior to this invention and have generally included a vertical printing roll, an ink distributing roll in rolling contact with the printing roll and an arrangement for applying ink to the ink distributing roli. However, when apparatus of the last mentioned type employs fast drying inks, so that the articles can be handled soon after they have been marked, the fast drying ink dries and cakes on the ink distributing roller to form raised ridges on the latter which interfere with the accurate metering of the ink 2,788,740 Patented Apr. 16, 1957 transferred to the type on the printing roller and blurred impressions are obtained.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention resides in the provision of apparatus which overcomes the aforesaid difiiculties and disadvantages of prior apparatus.

Another object resides in the provision of an improved method and means for transferring ink from a source of supply to a vertical printing roll and to a vertical surface to be printed.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a method and apparatus of the character indicated wherein a continuous or excess flow of ink to an ink receiving roll is provided. I

Another object resides in the provision of means for continuously recirculating the excess ink supplied to the rolls and forming a heavy bead at the contact line of an ink transferring roll with the ink receiving roll whereby the heavy bead of ink formed by the. excess automatically operates to clean the surfaces of the rolls and pigmented, fast drying inks may be employed advantageously, in that, the continuous circulation retains the pigments in colloidal suspension and the heavy bead formed by the excess flow prevents the build-up of dried layers of ink on the rolls.

Another object resides in the provision of means for directing a gushing stream of liquid ink against the periphery of an ink receiving roll, with the rate of flow and the position at which the stream contacts the roller being adjustable.

Another object is to provide means wherein the amount of ink transferred is positively metered and accurately controlled, and can be varied to coat the printing roll or type face with ink in a desired manner, regardless of the position vertically of the type face, which metering is accomplished accurately and continuously without periodic adjustments, whereby the amount of ink is determined by the demand of the surface to be printed and the ink in excess of the demand acts to clean the rolls and is continuously recirculated.

A further object is to provide such means wherein the pressure between contacting rolls readily can be adjusted.

A further object is to provide means wherein ink is prevented from contaminating the shafts, bearings or other elements associated with the inking rolls.

A still further object is to accomplish the foregoing in a simple, practical and economical manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be manifest from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention and from the illustrations in the accompanying drawing.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing a vertical printing roll, an ink transfer roll, means for directing a streamof ink against an ink supplying or receiving roll which is in rolling contact with the transfer roll and at a rate of flow sufliciently in excess of the ink required for transfer to the printing roll to form a heavy bead of ink at the line of contact of the ink receiving and transfer rolls for providing a gravity induced pouring flow of ink of the ink receiving and transfer rolls and thereby maintaining the latter in a clean condition, means for evenly distributing the ink on the rolls regardless of the position at which the stream of ink is directed, means for collecting the drippings or gravity induced pouring flow of ink from the ink transfer and supplying rolls, and means for conducting the drippings to the stream directing means for recirculation. Means are also provided for varying the rate of flow of the stream and for varying its position with respect to the rolls. The ink supplying roll and ink transfer roll are provided with means for adjusting the relative Ice positions of their respective axes, whereby to vary the pressure between "them so that only a limited amount of the ink applied to the ink supplying roll is carried by the V the ink supplying and ink transferring rolls are constructed and arranged at their lower ends to prevent ink from contaminatingbea'rings or "other surfaces between parts which rotate withrespect to each other.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

' Fig. '1 is a plan view of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an 'el'eva'ti'o'iial view of the apparatus'shown in Fig. 1, with certain parts in section illustrating details thereof; and

Fig. 3 is. a sectional "view taken along the line 3-3 on Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, there is shown a platform 10, acontinuously moving conveyor 12 for moving articles 14, such as packages, bottles, jars, cans, containers, cart'ons, boxes or packing cases and the like, into position for application of 'indici'a on the sidewall 16 thereof by the apparatus about to be described, and a guide rail 18 for positioning the articles in relation to the apparatus.

The apparatus in accordance the invention generally comprises 'a substantially vertical printing roll 20, an ink transferring roll 24 between and contacting the rolls 20 and 22, and means for directing a stream of ink the indicia thereon. A gear 32 is secured to the upper end of the shaft.

The ink transfer roll 24 may be rubber covered or of metal with fine lines 'or gravu're indentations etched into the cylindrical surface thereof. The ink is applied to the supplying roll 22 in comparatively large amounts, that is, in amounts far exceeding the requirements for adequate inking of the die or type 30 on the printing roll 20,

and this ink is squeezed or pressed out by the pressure contact between the rolls22 and 24. When the transfer roll 24 is rubber covered, the resiliency of the surface permits a thin film of ink to remain on the roll '24 and is transferred thereby to the die 30, whereby a positively metered film of ink is supplied to the die. To produce a thicker or thinner (lighter or heavier) metered film of ink for transfer to the die 30, the hardness or Durometer rating of the rubber coating is varied. Soft rubber supplies a thicker film and harder rubber supplies a thinner film. ,When the surface of the roll 24 is etched metal, which may be in conventional knurled design (not shown) or any other suitable etched design, the ink is applied in the same manner as above described except that the thin film of inkon the roll 24 is in the tin: etched lines or indentations on the surface of the transfer roll. The amount of ink transferred to the die 3'0 or metered,

' in such case, varies according to the depth and size of the 4 vertical disposition of the rolls, this bead provides a gravity induced pouring flow of ink off the rolls 22 and 24. The heavy bead accumulation and the pouringfiow off the rolls 22 and 24 act to continuously clean the surfaces of the ink supplying and transfer rolls so that, even when fast drying pigment inks are employed, the ink does not dry or cake on the rolls to interfere with the accurate metering of the ink transferred to the die on the printing roll 20. That is, the ink in the bead accumulation acts as a solvent for the ink remaining on the transfer -roll 24 after the latter has applied ink to the raised surfaces of the 'die 341' The ink supply and ink transferring rolls, 2tlfand 22 respectively, are each mounted for rotation about vertical axes by means described hereinafter. The roll 24 has a gear 34 secured thereto :for meshing with the gear 32 whereby rotation of the roll 24 is effected. The roll 22 is adapted to be rotated by the roll 24 by reason of frictional contact therebetween.

V The ink stream directing means comprise a vertical pipe 36 extending upwardly through the platform 10, a supply reservoir 38 including a pump or impeller driven by a motor 40, a hose 42 connecting the outlet of the reservoir to the pipe 36, a laterally extending conduit or pipe 26, a nozzle 44 connected to the free end of the pipe 26 for directing the stream against the roll 22 at any desired point thereon, and a valve 46 in the pipe 36, controlled by a handwheel 45 for varying the rate of flow 'of the stream. A clamp 47 on the platform 10 facilitates vertical adjustment of the pipe 36 and the nozzle 44 with respect to the roll 22 whereby the stream may be directed against the latter roll at any desired height on the periphery thereof.

In order to provide for recirculation for excess ink applied to the rolls, apan or trough 48 mounted on the platform 10 is positioned beneath the rolls Hand 24 for catching drippings therefrom, and a hose 5% connects the outlet 52 of the trough to the intake of the pump associated with the reservoir 38. If 'desiredthe trough 48 may be used conveniently for initial filling of the circulatory system.

The means for mounting the rolls 22 and 24 may be identical, and each comprises a circular shaft 54 secured at its lower end on the platform 10, and a sleeve 56 (Fig. 3) having an eccentric circular bore through which the shaft extends and having a cylindrical outer surface. The rolls 22 and 24 have a cylindrical body telescoped over and mounted for rotation on the sleeve 56 by bearings 58. The upper ends of the shaft 54 are connected to each otherto prevent relative movement thereof, by a cross bar 60, and are threaded for the reception of means such as Wing nuts 62 adapted to engage the sleeves 56 and prevent rotation thereof with respect to the shaft 54.

By reason of the foregoing described arrangement, the wing nuts 62 can be unscrewed to release the sleeves 56 to permit rotary adjustment thereof, whereby the eccentric bore facilitates positioning of the outer surfaces of" the rolls 22 and 24 with respect to each other to increase or decrease the pressure therebetween. Also by this arr'angement pressure between the rolls may be relieved when the device is not in use, and the parts may be removed readily for maintenance, repair or thorough cleaning of the various parts of the apparatus.

As the stream of ink is directed from the nozzle 44 against the roll 22 and the latter is rotated in frictional engagement with the transfer roll 24 in the manner previously described, after adjustment for thetdesir'ed pressure between the rolls, the stream of ink is squeezed between the rolls and is spread evenly over the surface of the roll 24 even to a level on the latter above the 'location on the roll 22 at which the stream of ink is directed. Thelexcess ink, which does not pass between the rolls in pressure contact, builds up a beadtof ink, as'previously described, in back of the contact line to create a pouring fiow off the rolls for cleaning the latter. It is apparent that the valve 46, which regulates the flow through the pipe 36, can be manipulated to ensure that an adequate excess of ink is always available in the stream of ink delivered to the roll 22 for performing the cleaning function.

A further feature of the rolls 22 and 24 is that the cylindrical roll bodies are spaced a considerable distance from the sleeves 56, and that a tube or sleeve 64 in the trough extends upwardly between the lower end of the rolls and their sleeves. This tube prevents ink contamination of the sleeves, shaft and lower bearings (Fig. 2}.

The printing roll 20 is adjustable vertically on the drive shaft 28 by means of an adjustment ring or fork 66 carried by a plate 68 supported on an adjusting screw 70 in the machine bed or platform 10, and may be fixed in adjusted position on the drive shaft by the said screw. The printing roll 20 may be removed from the drive shaft upon removal of the gear 32 which is removably held on the shaft by a set screw 72.

It is to be understood that the gears 32 and 34 may be secured adjacent the lower ends of their respective shafts, instead of the upper ends as illustrated, and if desired, the drive may be on the transfer roll instead of the printing roll.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides an improved method and means for transferring ink to a vertical printing roll which are simple to practice and operate and take advantage of adjustments for adaptation to the printing of indicia on vertical surfaces of articles of the type disclosed. The recirculating system prevents waste of ink and makes it possible to use pigmented ink because the pumping thereof agitates the ink and keeps the pigment in colloidal suspension. Further, the use of an excess flow of ink in the stream directed against the ink supplying roll results in the continuous cleaning of the rolls to permit the employment of fast drying inks without risking the drying and caking of such inks on the rolls.

While I have illustrated and described one constructional emodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the precise structure and arrangement of parts illustrated and described as obviously various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. In apparatus for supplying ink to a printing roll; the combination of a circular shaft fixedly mounted at one end on a support plate, a sleeve having an eccentric circular bore through which said shaft extends and having a cylindrical outer surface, a roll mounted for rotation on said sleeve concentric with said cylindrical outer surface, and means for removably connecting said sleeve to said shaft to prevent relative rotation therebetween and permitting rotary adjustment between said sleeve and shaft to determine the position of said roll relative to the axis of said shaft, said means consisting of a member threaded on the other end of said shaft for axial movement along the latter to bear against the adjacent end of said sleeve and thereby clamp the latter between said threaded member and said support plate.

2. .[n apparatus for supplying ink to a printing roll; the combination of a circular shaft fixedly mounted at one end on a support plate, a sleeve of substantially the same length as said shaft having an eccentric circular bore through which said shaft extends and having a cylindrical outer surface, a roll mounted for rotation on said sleeve concentric with said cylindrical outer surface of the latter, means at the other end of said shaft for removably connecting said sleeve to said shaft to prevent relative rotation therebetween and permitting rotary adjustment between said sleeve and shaft to determine the position of said roll relative to the axis of said shaft, said means consisting of a member threaded on said other end of the shaft for axial movement along the latter to bear against the adjacent end of said sleeve and thereby clamp the latter between said threaded member and said support plate, and a second roll in rolling contact with the first mentioned roll the latter being radially movable with respect to said second roll to vary the contact pressure between said rolls.

3. In apparatus for supplying ink to a printing roll; the combination according to claim 2, wherein said first and second rolls are vertically disposed, and further comprising a trough below said first and second rolls and extending laterally beyond the peripheries of said rolls by a distance exceeding the eccentricity of said circular bore of the sleeve so that said trough is always disposed to collect a gravity induced flow of ink dripping off the lower edges of said rolls without regard to the position of the first roll relative to the axis of said shaft.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,262,707 Smith Apr. 16, 1918 1,614,540 Shipley Jan. 18, 1927 1,840,068 Walker et al. Jan. 5, 1932 1,840,069 Walker et al. Jan. 5, 1932 1,870,700 Von Webern et al Aug. 9, 1932 2,369,814 Worthington Feb. 20, 1945 2,474,160 Peyrebrune Jan. 21, 1949 2,655,103 Hirschey Oct. 13, 1953 

